Improvement in drawing and tracing apparatus



F. MOILVENNA & W. -P. THOMPSON. Drawing and Tracing Apparatus.

No. 218,893. Patented Aug. 26,1879.

N.PETERS, PHDTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FELIX MOILV'ENNA AND ILLIAM P. THOMPSON, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

IMPROVEMENT lN DRAWING AND TRACING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,893, dated August 726, 1879; application filed July 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FELIX MCILVENNA, in anufacturer, an d \VILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMP- SON, civil engineer, both of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, l higland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Copying or Tracing Drawings, Pictures, and thelike; and that the following specifiea tion is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to produce an apparatus for use in tracing or copying drawings, which maybe folded into a compact form, and which shall be adapted to protect and carry pencils, pens, and otherinstrunients employed by the scholar or artist; and to this end it consists in the combination of a box'or tray having a reilccting-surt'ace, a glass-supporting frame hinged to the tray, and a shield, which may also be a slate, hinged to the glassfraine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of our improved apparatus in shape for use. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same folded or closed; Fig. 3, a similar view of a slightlymodificd form of the same.

In the drawings, A represents a rigid frame, in which is seated a sheet of glass, 13, the upper face of the glass being flush with that of the frame, as shown. 0 represents a shallow box or tray, to one side of which the frame A is hinged, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, said frame being furnished at or near its free edge with hinged supportinglegs D, by which the frame may be held at any desired angle of inelination. E represents a lid or cover, preferably hinged to the free edge of the frame A, on the upper side of the same, and serving, when turned down, to cover and protect the glass 13, or work placed upon the same, and when elevated, as in Fig. 1, forming a shield or shade to shut out the light from the upper face of the glass B. This lid may be simply athin wooden cover, or a light frame, in which may be stretched a dark-colored fabric; but in practice it is preferred to employ for this purpose simply a light drawi-ngslate.

F represents alightlid or cover, which closes over the tray 0, below the frame A, and serves the same,

to prevent the instruments placed in the tray from coming into contact with the glass. This cover may be of any suitable material, but should in all cases be provided with a white upper surface, in order that it may act as a reflector to throw light upward through the glass B. If parchment or paper he used, the surface will be snfliciently white without any special preparation but if wood or metal be used, they should be painted or enameled.

In Fig. 3 there is represented a slightlymoditied form of our frame, the lids or covers E and F beingomitted. Itis, however, essential to the proper working of the apparatus that a shield or shade be furnished to cut off the light from the upper face of the glass, and that a reflecting-surtace be provided below the same; and to this end we provide a shade or shield, E, Fig. 3, which remains in the tray when not in use, and which is furnished with rigid legs 1). These legs are arranged to fitinto notches in the free edge of frame A, and support the frame ata-ny desired elevation, the shield or shade E in such case projectingabove the frame the same as in Fig. l and to afford a reflecting-surface we paint or enamel the bottom of the tray C, or place a sheet of paper or like material therein. \Vhen the lid E is employed, as in Fig. 1, a catch or support, it, will be provided to retain the same in an elevated position.

Thefranie being thus constructed is adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, the drawing or other work to be copied is stretched over the glass B, and a sheet of paper or other material in turn stretched over the drawing. The light being thrown upward through the glass B and cut off from above the same by the shade or shield E, (the elevated side of the frame being turned to the light,) the lines of the drawing will be clearly visible through the paper, and may be readily traced or followed.

It is obvious that a mirror maybe employed to reflect lightupward through the glass; but

the white surface is found to be preferable, as

well as being cheaper.

We are aware that eopyin g-frames have been made in various forms, and that the use of reflectors and shields in connection therewith is old; and we are also aware that itis old to apply a sliding tray to the under side of a common drawing-board, and hence we do not claim, broadly, such devices; but, Having thus described our invention, what we claim is-- 1. The combination of the reflecting-base O, the frame B, provided with the transparent glass and hinged to the front edge of the base, devices I), for sustaining the frame B, and the opaque shield E, hinged to the rear edge of the frame B, and arranged to fold down thereon.

2. The combination of the tray or drawer O, thehinged reflecting cover F and hinged glasssupporting frame A, both connected to the tray,

the; hinged shield E, and means, substantially such as shown and described, for sustaining the frame and shield in elevated positions.

3. In a copying-frame, the combination of the glass-supporting frame and the shield E, having its upper side adapted for use as a slate.-

' FELIX MOILVENNA.

WM. P. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

E. GARDNER OoL'roN, '1. LE GLER 

